Mission

Thirty years ago a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot.

Since our inception in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has evolved into one of the largest non-profit grassroots organizations dedicated to protection of the ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.

Today, we are measurably stronger, with more force and movement than ever before. We have 84 chapters, plus 30 high school and college clubs, and more than 250,000 supporters, volunteers and activists around the country. We are working on about 100 different campaigns in four core areas: beach access, clean, coastal preservation (coastal development) and protection. Armed with a model to defend the coast, we have achieved more than 300 coastal victories (and counting) since 2006.

With times of uncertainty, it hasn’t been easy. There’s still a lot of work to be done. Our work is critical. And, our long-term success and growth is a tribute to our founders’ vision: that taking on an environmental battle may not be easy, but with constant pressure, endlessly applied, it can, and will, be won. The key to this is what makes our organization unique...

THE PEOPLE.

In 2014 we celebrated our 30th anniversary. In honor of this milestone we created an online timeline with a more detailed account of the Surfrider Foundation's history. It includes photos and highlights many of our successes and programs.